The members of Auckland University Underwater Club are putting together their very own catalogue of marine life in New Zealand. Our aim is to build up a resource people can use to help identity what they see underwater.

Lord Howe coralfish. Amphichaetodon howensis. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.

This catalogue won’t replace all the terrific books available on New Zealand marine life. Once you know what you’re looking at, you’re going to want to know more about it, where it lives, what it eats etc. But hopefully this will inspire you to learn more about what you encounter underwater.

We’re after good quality images of a medium size (1024 x 768 pixels), 200-400kB, cropped to display the species of interest. Please don’t email me huge files!

You need to provide:

• the location the photo was taken eg. Middle Arch, Poor Knights Islands
• your name, so I can confirm you are a paid AUUC member, and credit you with the image

If you think you know what the species is, you are welcome to provide the species name (common and scientific) as well.

Email your photos to species@akunidive.com

Photographers retain the image copyright. We may use your photos on our website, but we will not use them for any other purposes without your permission.

DISCLAIMER: While I may be in charge of putting this all together, I am not a marine biologist. I’m self taught, so I expect this may be difficult and I might make mistakes. I don’t guarantee my identifications are correct but I shall try my best!

I look forward to receiving your images and watching our albums grow.

Ali Perkins

PS. Huge thanks to Dr Richard Willan, Honorary Life Member of AUUC (member 1971-1979), for his tremendous assistance in identifying the invertebrate photos.

Return to album listFish

Marblefish. Aplodactylus arctidens. Cathedral Cave, Piercy Island, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Northern scorpionfish. Scorpaena cardinalis. Piercy Island, Cape Brett, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Yellow-black triplefin (spawning male). Forsterygion flavonigrum. Canterbury Wreck, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.
Oblique-swimming triplefins. Obliquichthys maryannae. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Demoiselles. Chromis dispilus. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Copper moki. Latridopsis forsteri. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Kingfish (Haku). Seriola lalandi. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Bluefish (Korokoropounamu). Girella cyanea. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Green wrasse (female). Notolabrus inscriptus. The Canyons, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Long-finned boarfish. Zanclistius elevatus. The Canyons, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Banded wrasse (Tangahangaha). Notolabrus fucicola. Homer Reef, Bland Bay, Northland. Alison Perkins.	Starry toado. Arothron firmamentum. Poor Knights Islands. Mazdak Radjainia.
Sandager’s wrasse (female). Coris sandageri. Kaitirehe Rock, Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Yellow demoiselle. Chromis fumea. Kaitirehe Rock, Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Porcupinefish (Koputotara). Allomycterus jaculiferus. Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.
Butterfish juvenile (Greenbone, Marari, Koeaea). Odax pullus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.	Snapper (Tamure). Pagrus auratus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.	Silver drummer. Kyphosus sydneyanus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.
Northern splendid perch. Callanthias australis. Len’s Reef, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Tarakihi. Nemadactylus macropterus. Mary’s Wall, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Spectacled triplefin. Ruanoho whero. Hauraki Gulf. Alison Perkins.
Scarlet wrasse male (Puwaiwhakarua). Pseudolabrus miles. Shark Alley, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Trevally (Arara). Pseudocaranx dentex. Shark Alley, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Black angelfish (adult). Parma alboscapularis. Ugly Point, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.
Butterfly perch (Oia). Caesioperca lepidoptera. Cave Bay, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Pink maomao (Matata). Caprodon longimanus. Tie Die Arch, The Pinnacles, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	John dory (Kuparu). Zeus faber. Canterbury Wreck, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.
Black angelfish eggs. Parma alboscapularis. Ugly Point, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Crested blenny. Parablennius laticlavius. Cathedral Cave, Piercy Island, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Blue cod (Pakirikiri, Rawaru). Parapercis colias. Canterbury Wreck, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.
Unidentified Pipefish. Sponge Gardens, Whatuwhiwhi, Karikari Peninsula. Alison Perkins.	Northern splendid perch. Callanthias australis. Matai Bay Pinnacle. Alison Perkins.	Banded wrasse (Tangahangaha). Notolabrus fucicola. The Eyebrow, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.
Red pigfish male (Pakurakura). Bodianus unimaculatus. The Eyebrow, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Dwarf scorpionfish. Scorpaena papillosus. Whangamumu Coast, Bland Bay, Northland. Alison Perkins.	Sweep (Hui). Scorpis lineolatus. Danger Rock, Bland Bay. Alison Perkins.
Mimic blenny. Plagiotremus tapeinosoma. White Reef, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Half-banded perch. Hypoplectrodes sp. White Reef, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Spotty female (Paketi, Pakirikiri). Notolabrus celidotus. Canterbury Wreck, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.
Bigeyes. Pempheris adspersa. Bigeyes Lair, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Spotted sawtail. Prionurus maculatus. Ruahine Shoal, Cavalli Islands. Mazdak Radjainia.	Leatherjacket (Kokiri). Parika scaber. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.
Demoiselle (nesting male). Chromis dispilus. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Oblique-swimming triplefins. Obliquichthys maryannae. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Scaly-headed triplefin. Karalepis stewarti. The Passage, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Giant boarfish. Paristiopterus labiosus. The Passage, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Parore (being cleaned by juvenile Trevally). Girella tricuspidata. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.	Spotty male (Paketi, Pakirikiri). Notolabrus celidotus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.
Painted moki. Cheilodactylus ephippium. Putahataha Island, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Leatherjacket juvenile (Kokiri). Parika scaber. Canterbury Wreck, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Red moki (Nanua). Cheilodactylus spectabilis. Canterbury Wreck, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.
Goatfish (Red mullet, Ahuruhuru). Upeneichthys lineatus. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Dwarf scorpionfish. Scorpaena papillosus. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Porae. Nemadactylus douglasii. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Cavalli Islands. Alison Perkins.
Rock cod. Lotella rhacinus. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Cavalli Islands. Alison Perkins.	Red pigfish female (Pakurakura). Bodianus unimaculatus. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Alison Perkins.	Koheru. Decapterus koheru. Cleanerfish Bay, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Yaldwyn’s triplefin. Notoclinops yaldwyni. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Lord Howe coralfish. Amphichaetodon howensis. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Blue-eyed triplefin. Notoclinops segmentatus. Trevor’s Rock, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Blue moki. Latridopsis ciliaris. Homestead Reef, White Island. Alison Perkins.	Blue maomao. Scorpis violaceus. Homestead Reef, White Island. Alison Perkins.	Yellow-black triplefin. Forsterygion flavonigrum. Danger Rock, Bland Bay, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.
Kelpfish (Hiwihiwi). Chironemus marmoratus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.	Goatfish (Red mullet, Ahuruhuru). Upeneichthys lineatus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.	Goatfish (Red mullet, Ahuruhuru). Upeneichthys lineatus. Goat Island. Alison Perkins.
Spectacled triplefin. Ruanoho whero. Matheson Bay. Alison Perkins.	Common triplefin. Forsterygion lapillum. Matheson Bay. Alison Perkins.	Variable triplefin. Forsterygion varium. Outer Bland Bay, Bay of Islands. Roger Bymolt.
Crested weedfish. Cristiceps aurantiacus. Piglet, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Crested weedfish. Cristiceps aurantiacus. Piglet, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.	Blue-dot triplefin. Notoclinops caerulepunctus. Piglet, Aldermen Islands. Alison Perkins.
Unidentified Pipefish. Stigmatopora ?? Leigh Jetty. Alison Perkins.	Sea horse (Manaia). Hippocampus abdominalis. Leigh Jetty. Alison Perkins.	Toadstool grouper. Trachypoma macracanthus. Blue Maomao Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Green wrasse (male). Notolabrus inscriptus. Blue Maomao Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Schooling Blue maomao, Scorpis violaceus & Trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex (yellow tails). Middle Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Yellow-banded perch. Acanthistius cinctus. Northern Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.
Clown toado (Sharp-nosed puffer). Canthigaster callisterna. The Gardens, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Golden snapper (Koarea). Centroberyx affinis. Calypso Bay, Poor Knights Islands. Cameron Russo.	Eyebrow perch. Hypoplectrodes sp. Calypso Bay, Poor Knights Islands. Cameron Russo.
Mado. Atypichthys latus. Middle Arch, Poor Knights Islands. Alison Perkins.	Kingfish juvenile (Haku). Seriola lalandi. Canterbury Mooring Buoy, Deep Water Cove, Bay of Islands. Alison Perkins.	Sandager’s wrasse (male). Coris sandageri. Motutapere, Cavalli Islands. Mirko Tegeler.
Dwarf scorpionfish. Scorpaena papillosus. Rainbow Warrior Wreck, Cavalli Islands, Matauri Bay. Mirko Tegeler.	Leatherjacket (Kokiri). Parika scaber. Red Baron Caves, Poor Knights Islands. Mirko Tegeler.	Banded triplefin. Forsterygion malcolmi. Whale Rock, Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula. Alison Perkins.
Ocean sunfish? Mola mola. [Southern ocean sunfish? Mola ramsayi?]. Pretty Point, Aldermen Islands. Mirko Tegeler.	Ocean sunfish? Mola mola. [Southern ocean sunfish? Mola ramsayi?]. Pretty Point, Aldermen Islands. Mirko Tegeler.

Books to Read

A Guide to the New Zealand Seashore
By Dave Gunson

A Photographic Guide to Sea Fishes of New Zealand
By Wade Doak

A Photographic Guide to Seashells of New Zealand
By Margaret S. Morley, Photographs by Iain A. Anderson

Australian Marine Life, The Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters, Revised Edition
By Graham J. Edgar

Beneath New Zealand Seas
By Wade Doak

Coastal Fishes of New Zealand, An Identification Guide, Third Edition
By Malcolm Francis

Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand
By Tony Ayling, Colour plates by Geoffrey J. Cox

Common Seashells of New Zealand
By Brian Parkinson

Deep New Zealand, Blue Water, Black Abyss
By Peter Batson

Echinodermata: Asteroidea (Sea-stars)
By Helen E.S. Clark and Donald G. McKnight

Goat Island Marine Reserve, Leigh, New Zealand, An Identification Guide to the Underwater Inhabitants
By Jenny and Tony Enderby

Life in the Estuary, Illustrated Guide and Ecology
By Malcolm B. Jones and Islay D. Marsden

The Life-Size Guide to the New Zealand Beach
By Andrew Crowe

Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling New Zealand
By Jenny and Tony Enderby

New Zealand Coastal Marine Invertebrates, Volume 1
By Steve de C. Cook

Nudibranchs Encyclopedia, Catalogue of Asia/Indo – Pacific Sea Slugs
By Neville Coleman

Poor Knights Wonderland, Field Guide to the Islands and Marine Reserve
By Glenn Edney

The Rockpool Fishes of New Zealand
By Chris Paulin and Clive Roberts

Seashore Ecology of New Zealand and the Pacific
John Morton

Seaweeds of New Zealand, An Illustrated Guide
By Nancy M. Adams

Subtidal Invertebrates of New Zealand, A Divers’ Guide
By Stephen Wing

Whale Watching in Australian & New Zealand Waters, New Edition
By Peter Gill and Cecilia Burke, Colour Illustrations by Pieter Folkens

Which Seashell?
By Andrew Crowe